A singer who competed on Mexico's The Voice, was critically wounded after being shot in the head three times while sitting in his car in Chicago hours after celebrating his birthday.

Alejandro 'Jano' Fuentes, was preparing to celebrate his 45th birthday with friends when a gunman tried to force him out of his car as he was trying to leave his Chicago studio, police and witnesses told NBC Chicago.

Police said Fuentes was in a vehicle with a passenger when a man with a gun walked up and told him to get out of the car.

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Alejandro 'Jano' Fuentes (pictured), was preparing to celebrate his 45th birthday with friends when a gunman tried to force him out of his car as he was trying to leave his Chicago studio

Police said Fuentes was in a vehicle with a passenger when a man with a gun walked up and told him to get out of the car

Fuentes at first resisted a couple of times but when the gunman pulled out the gun he tried to protect his friend by getting out of the car

The attacker the shot him shortly after 10pm in the city's Brighton Park neighborhood

Fuentes' close friend, Michael Sanchez, who has two children who attend Fuentes' academy, said he believes that the shooting 'wasn't random'. Fuentes is pictured (right) on La Voz Mexico in 2011

Fuentes at first resisted a couple of times but when the gunman pulled out the gun he tried to protect his friend by getting out of the car, according to ABC7.

The gunman then shot him anyway shortly after 10pm in the city's Brighton Park neighborhood.

He was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he is fighting for his life.

The unidentified gunman fled on foot before getting into a nearby car, according to NBC.

Police said they don't have a suspect in custody.

'He's fighting a big battle for his life,' said Miguel Sanchez, a close friend of Fuentes told ABC7.